SANFORD - Santa Claus will be at Central Carolina Community College Dec. 4, enjoying the CCCC Foundation's Third Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. He invites everyone to join him there.

The free event takes place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in the Lee County Campus Plaza, 1105 Kelly Drive, Sanford.

The Southern Lee High School Marching Band kicks off the festivities as the band parades through campus, accompanying Santa to the plaza.

The jolly old elf will greet children of all ages and be available to take Christmas wishes back to the North Pole. Santa is ready and eager to meet all of the children and have his picture taken with them. The CCCC Foundation will post the photos on its website, www.cccc.edu/foundation, the following day, where they can be downloaded for free.

CCCC Trustee Chairman Julian Philpott will read the holiday classic, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." Hot cocoa and cookies prepared by the college's culinary arts students will be served. Charlee Cougar, the college's mascot, will be greeting visitors and sharing his fun antics. Christmas ornaments will be distributed to all the children.

"Following the story, a countdown will begin and the CCCC Christmas tree will be officially lit for the holiday season," said Emily Hare, CCCC Foundation Executive Director. "Please come out and join us for this special occasion!"

For more information, contact Hare at 919-718-7230 or ehare@cccc.edu, or Rebecca Howington, Institutional Effectiveness administrative assistant, at 919-718-7320 or rhowington@cccc.edu.